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In need high-efficency speakers

I recently purchased a preowned Mystere IA-11 40 watt tube integrated amp to replace a 120 wpc SS amp. Overall it has a very satisfying sound with plenty of detail, dynamics and a tight bass for a tube amp.

The problem is the combination of our large town-home living/dining room combo with my 87db DIY Seas Froy Mk3 speaker, powered by the 40 watt amp means it can’t play loud, especially a problem with movies or TV specials.

I was hoping to change to the Zu Audio Omen Mk2 or Klipsch Heresy III high-efficency speakers. My wife and I agree it is unwise to spend that kind of money with our current finances. The Zu Dirty Weekend would be a cheaper option, but the Klipsch would look better in our living room.

So I’m looking for solid advice on what to do from this audiophile community.

Here is a link to my ’Virtual System’ if that will help.
https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/7252

Thanks all,
Mike
128x128mjcmt
twoch
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wolf_garcia
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mjcmt OP
479 posts
 
Al and David_ten,
There is nothing wrong w/ the amp and tubes have little hours on them according to Echo Hi-Fi. My speakers are great too. The sound is lovely w/ music. I think the imagined hardening is greater dynamics in a lively living room w/o any rugs or sound treatment. We like to crank it more w/ movies and for tv specials through the lower output dac. That’s simply it. I never turned it up past 1:00 for fear of damage to amp or speakers, but tonight will try turning it up more as mentioned here when we watch a tv special. I’ve tried higher efficient 94db Klipsch ksb3.1 bookshelf speakers and the added volume is a welcome plus.
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david_ten
2,509 posts
 
@mjcmt   Thanks and understood. 
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almarg
8,673 posts
 
The difference between 6 watts and 40 watts is about 8 db.  Roughly speaking, for a rotary volume control an 8 db change typically corresponds to about 60 or 70 degrees of rotation (aside from settings near the bottom of the control's range, where volume changes occur more rapidly).

So I would expect that you should be able to get to at least the 2 o'clock position without driving the amp into clipping.  And in any event I would expect that you would hear obvious distortion well before any damage would occur to either the speakers or the amp.

Good luck.  Regards,
-- Al 
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